BRADENTON BEACH – The city commission has adopted on first reading the city’s $7.33 million 2026-27 fiscal year budget.
The city commission approved the previously proposed budget on first reading during the brief Sept. 3 budget hearing. City Treasurer Shayne Thompson presented the proposed budget to the commission.
The budget is based on maintaining the current 2.3329 millage rate. At 2.3329 mills, Bradenton Beach property owners will pay a city property tax of approximately $2.33 for every $1,000 of a property’s assessed taxable value, after homestead exemptions and any additional exemptions have been factored in.
The budget was adopted with no additional commission comments or public comment.
The budget for the new fiscal year that begins Oct. 1 will be presented for second reading and final adoption on Sept. 9 at 5:30 p.m. The fiscal year 2026-27 budget is $2.31 million higher than the $5.02 million budget adopted last September for the current 2025-26 fiscal year that ends Sept. 30.
REVENUES
According to the budget worksheet included in the meeting packet, $4.03 million in estimated revenues will be generated by ad valorem property taxes, franchise fees, service taxes and sales tax shares.
Generated primarily by building permit and plan fees, the projected planning and building department revenues total $1.04 million.
The projected $293,651 in police department revenues include an interlocal agreement with Manatee County for the city’s patrols of the county-owned beaches in Bradenton Beach. The police revenues also include parking and court fines.
The Bradenton Beach Pier is expected to generate $189,392 through lease payments and a percentage-of-sales agreement with the Anna Maria Oyster Bar.
Streets and roads revenue tied to gas tax revenue sharing is projected to be $94,282. Stormwater revenue totals $1.44 million and includes $1 million in state appropriation.
The city expects to receive $87,000 from its franchise agreement with Waste Pro. Various fund transfers and carryovers that included capital projects reserves and transportation and public safety tax accounts are expected to contribute $157,376.
EXPENSES
General fund operating expenditures are budgeted at $5.58 million. At $2.36 million, the police department is the city’s largest single expense.
The administration department expenses that include the city clerk’s office and the city treasurer are projected to be $914,913. Planning department expenses are projected to be $519,444, and $618,685 is expected to be spent on streets and roads.
Other departmental expenses include $340,979 for stormwater management and $196,410 for the city commission expenses that include a total of $28,800 for the mayor and commissioners’ salaries and wages.
The budgeted expenses include $177,640 for facilities, $138,238 for emergency operations, $131,135 for the Bradenton Beach Pier, $119,844 for code enforcement, $61,031 for the flood insurance-related Community Rating System program and $5,000 for sanitation.
Subtracting the operating expenditures from total revenue leaves a net of $1.75 million before capital spending.
CAPITAL SPENDING
The proposed budget sets aside $1.26 million for capital projects and reserves. The largest capital expense is $1 million for stormwater infrastructure improvements that will include pipe and outfall valve maintenance and flood-prevention construction.
Other capital allocations include $86,426 for police vehicles and equipment, $55,000 for a public works truck and citywide tree trimming, $50,000 for roof repairs on city buildings, $45,000 for a building official vehicle and $18,688 for an emergency generator.
With capital expenditures added to operating expenditures, the budgeted expenses total $6.84 million, leaving the city with a projected net balance of $490,806. According to the budget worksheet, $397,345 of that net would be transferred to reserves and $93,461 would be transferred to the stormwater carryover funding source.
(Sun reporter Joe Hendricks contributed to this story)
